Signaling device for motor-vehicles.



J. BURKE. SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1909.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

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WITNESSES A TTURNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS c0, PHOTO-LITHCL. WASHING TON. D.1

W. J. BURKE.

SIGNALING DEVIGE FOB. MOTOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 23, 1909- Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

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WITNESSES A TTORNEYS THE NORRIS PETERS CO PHOTO-LIYHII. WASHINGTON D. C.

WILLIAM J. BURKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SIGNALING DEVICE FOR MOTOR-VEHICLES.

Application filed January 23, 1909.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. Bonxn, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and Stateof New York, have invented a certain new and useful Signaling Device forMotor-Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a signaling device for vehicles generally, but becauseof its particular adaptability to automobiles and motor driven vehicles,it .will be described hereinafter in connection with such a vehicle.

The invention of the present application is designed, moreparticularly,as an 1mprovement upon the signaling device (heclosed in a priorapplication filed by me on Dec. 28, 1908, Serial No. 469,626. It isdesired to state, however, that the present 1nvention is not to beconfined to use in connection with the particular form of illuminatedsignal of the prior application, for

the reason that it may be used in connection with signals generally.

Experience has shown that it is desirable to positively lock thesignaling device in its normal position, for the reason that it maybecome moved out of position either bythe motion or the jarring of thevehicle to which it is applied, or for'various other causes.Accordingly, I have provided means for re taining or looking thesignaling device in a locked position, and said retaining means operatesin connection with the illuminated signal of the prior application toexpose the tail lights of a motor driven vehicle normally to view.Furthermore, the retaining or locking means of the present inventionoperates in conjunction with the signal operating means in such mannerthat the retaining means is operated automatically to release thesignal, and thereafter said signal is moved to expose a sign to the viewof a driver or chauffeur in a vehicle following the one equipped with mysignaling device.

The invention embodies other features of novelty which will behereinafter fully described.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one practical embodimentof the invention, but the construction shown therein is to be understoodas illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Serial No. 473,800.

Figure 1 is a side view illustrating my signaling device applied to anautomobile, the latter being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 2 1s a detailperspective view on an enlarged scale of the signaling device in itsnormal position. Fig. 8 is a perspective v1ew illustrating the signaladjusted to position for displaying the warning. Fig. 4: 1s an enlargedview in side elevation of means for supporting and operating the signaland the latch mechanism therefor. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section showingcertain parts in plan, the plane of the section beingindicated by thedotted line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical detail cross sec tionalview on the line 66 of Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 are detail views of partsof the devices for operating the signal.

The signal shown in the drawings is similar in material respects to thedevice disclosed in the prior application to which ref erence has beenmade. Said signal, A, is shown as consisting of an illuminated signcomprising a casing, a, adapted to contain a lamp or other means forilluminating the signal and a transparent panel, 6, the'latter beinginscribed with a warning or signal, such as the word stop shown in Fig.3. Casing, a, of the signal is provided with a lamp font a, the chimney,a and a plurality of colored glasses, (L The detailed construction ofsignal,A, is not a material part of the present invention, and the rightis reserved of modifying the construction of said signal as demanded bycircumstances. The signal is rotatably mounted at the rear part ofvehicle, B, and for this purpose the signal is provided with pivots, ora rock shaft, indicated at C. The upper pivot, or the upper part of rockshaft is supported in a bearing, (1, of a bracket, D, whereas the lowerpivot, or the lower part of the rock shaft is mounted in a lug, d, atthe lower part of said bracket, D, whereby signal, A, is adapted to turnfrom the position of Fig. 2 into the position of Fig. 3, or vice versa.Bracket, D, is shown as having a rearwardly and downwardly extendingarm, 6, which is supported in a fixture, E,

The lower pivot, or the lower part of rock.

shaft, G, is provided with a pulley, F,

around which passes a chain or cable, G, said cable being fastened as atg to said pulley, F. The fastening, g, may be in the form of a screw,bolt or other device, for the purpose of rigidly attaching said cable tothe pulley at a point intermediate the ends of the cable. The lower lug,d, of supporting bracket, D, is adapted to support the shaft, h, for aplurality of direction pulleys, H, H, and over said direction pulleyspasses the two lengths of chain or cable, G, as shown more clearly inFigs. 4 and 5. Said cable or chain extends forwardly from signal, A,below the body and running gear of an automobile or other motor drivenvehicle, and the forward ends of said cable or chain, G, are fastened toa lever, I, see Fig. 7. This lever is secured firmly to the lower end ofa vertical rock shaft, J, which passes through the floor of vehicle, B,and to the upper part of said rock shaft is secured an arm, 71, of atreadle, I, or other suitable operating device, whereby said shaft, J,and lever, I, may be turned in one direction for the purpose ofimparting movement to cable or chain, G. The signal, A, is held normallyin the position of Fig. 2 by the action of a spring, J, herein shown ashaving one end attached to lever, I, as at y, while its other end isanchored on a suitable part of the vehicle, as at j, see Fig. 7 Thespring acts on lever, I, to pull it into the position of Fig. 7, thusexerting strain on one strand of cable, G, and turning pulley, F, to theposition of Fig. 5, whereby signal, A, is normally moved into theposition of Figs. 1 and 2 for the purpose of displaying the tail lightson the vehicle. When the sign is to be displayed for the purpose ofconveying the warning to the driver or chaufieur of the vehiclefollowing the one equipped with my new signal, the operator appliespressure, by the foot, to treadle, I, thus turning lever, 1, against the7 tension of spring, J, and moving one strand of cable, G, wherebypulley, F, is turned and signal, A, is swung from the positions of Figs.1 and 2 into the position of Fig. 3.

An important feature of the present invention is a latch, L, adapted forengage ment directly with signal, A, for the purpose of retaining it inthe normal position of Figs. 1 and 2. Said latch is shown in Figs. 8 to6, inclusive, in the form of a lever having an angular arm, Z, the freeend of which is notched or formed with a beak, Z, the latter beingadapted for engagement with a keeper, Z provided on the bottom portionof signal, A, said keeper being in the form of a plate, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 5. The latch or lever, L, extends across anupstanding part, (Z on the lower lug, d, of bracket, D, and said latchis pivotally attached to said upstanding part, 03

7 by a screw or pin, m. The latch, it will be observed, is pivotedintermediate its ends, and on the short arm of said latch is mounted thesheave, M, which is normally in engagement with one strand or length ofcable, Gr, see Fig. A. To the short arm of said latch is connected aspring, 0, the lower end of which is anchored on lower lug, d, of thesupporting bracket, and this spring acts to normally pull down one endof latch, L, so as to retain pulley, M, in engagement with a lead ofcable, G. The action of spring, 0, raises the long arm of latch, L, soas to secure interlocking engagement between the notched arm, Z, of saidlatch and the keeper, Z of signal, A, but it also depresses the shortarm of latch, L, thereby causing sheave or pulley, M, to forcedownwardly one lead of cable, G, in the manner shown in Fig. 4. Now whenthe operator applies pressure to treadle, l, and shaft, J, and lever, T,are turned, spring, J, is distended and one lead of cable, G, is placedunder tension, thereby straightening that part of the cable betweensheave, H, and pulley, F. The efiect of this operation is to raisepulley, M, and turn latch, L, on its pivot, m, thus depressing thehooked arm of the latch from engagement with signal, A. The pull of thecable, G, on pulley, F, turns signal, A, into the position of Fig. 3,thus displaying the sign, 6. The

sign of said signal, A, is of such character that it may readily bedistinguished and read in the day time for some distance in rear ofvehicle, B, and by illuminating said sign, it can be read with equalfacility at night. When pressure is removed from treadle, 1, spring, Jacts on lever, T, to return the treadle to its normal position and toswing signal, A, back to the position of Figs. 1 and 2. During thisreturn move ment of signal, A, the tension on one lead of cable, G, isslackened, and spring, 0, acts on latch, L, to raise its hooked end intothe path of keeper, Z whereby as the signal is returned to its normalposition the latch engages automatically with the keeper of said signal.At the same time, treadle, T, is returned to normal position so that theapparatus is ready for operation again when re quired.

The latch operates to retain signal, A, firmly in the position of Figs.1 and 2, so that it cannot be displaced by the motion of the vehicle orby arring thereof, and said latch provides a means for positivelylooking the signal in its normal position. When the signal occupies saidnormal position, and is illuminated during the night time, the lenses orglasses, a will display the warning signal, the device serving thepurposes of a tail light under these conditions.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to se cure by Letters Patent is 1. In a signal device of theclass described, a rotatable sign, means for supporting it for movement,on a vertical axis and in a position normally concealed from view, aspring latch operating to retain the sign in a position for concealingits face, and means operable from a distant point for releasing saidlatch and for swinging the sign to an exposed position.

2. In a signaling device of the class described, a rotatable membercarrying a sign and a signal, means for supporting said rotatable memberon a vehicle, and in a position wherein the sign is concealed, a latch00- operating directly with said rotatable member so as to retain thesign in the normally concealed position, and means for rotating therotatable member in an arc of a circle so as to expose the sign to Viewrearwardly of a vehicle, said latch being released by said operatingmeans.

3. In a signaling device of the class described, the combination of apivoted member provided with a sign, a pulley fast with the pivot ofsaid member, a lever, a cable attached to said pulley and said lever,means for operating the lever, and a latch cooperating with the pivotedmember and operated by the cable.

4. In a signal device of the class described, a supporting fixtureadapted to be attached to a vehicle, a pivoted carrying member providedwith an'illuminated sign and a signal, a flexible element for operatingsaid carrying member, a latch mounted on said fixture and cooperatingwith said carrying member whereby the latter is retained in a positionto conceal the sign, said latch being operated by said flexible element,and means acting on the latch for holding it in the path of the pivotedcarrying member.

5. In a signaling device of the class described, a rotatable membercarrying a signal and a sign, means for supporting said rotatable memberin a position wherein the sign is concealed from view at the rear of thevehicle, a member movable to different positions and operating acontroller for the rotatable member, means connecting said movablemember to the rotatable member and locking means cooperating with therotatable member for holding it against movement when it occupies aposition wherein the sign is concealed, said locking means 00- operatingwith and adapted to be automatically released by the means connectingthe movable member with the rotatable member when the former is actuatedto op.- erate the latter.

6. In a signaling device of the class described, a rotatable membercarrying a signal and a sign, means for pivotally supporting saidrotatable member on a vehicle and in a position wherein the sign isconcealed and the signal is exposed to view, a prime mover for supplyingthe power for moving said rotatable member, means for transmitting thepower from the prime mover to the rotatable member whereby the rotatablemember may be moved so that the sign is shifted from its normallyconcealed posi tion to an exposed position, and locking meanscooperating with the transmitting means and with the rotatable memberfor positively retaining the sign in its normally concealed position.

7. In a signaling device of the classdescribed, a rotatable membercarrying a sign and a signal, means for supporting the r0- tatablemember on the rear part of a vehicle and normally in a position whereinthe sign is concealed and the signal is exposed, a prime mover foroperating the rotatable member so as to move the sign from its normallyconcealed position to an exposed position, means transmitting power fromthe prime mover to the rotatable member, and

locking means for positively retaining the rotatable member in theposition wherein the sign is in said normally concealed position, saidlocking means being controllable by the transmitting means to releasesaid locking means and allow the rotatable member to be shifted to aposition to expose the i In a signaling device of the class described, asign supported for pivotal movement, means for pivotally supporting saidsign on a vehicle, means operable through a flexible cable for impartingrotative movement to the sign, and a yieldable latch operating to lockthe rotatable sign in a posi tion wherein it is normally concealed, saidlatch being releasable by the flexible cable of the sign operatingmeans.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM J. BURKE.

Witnesses:

H. I. BERNHARD, M. G. POWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Il-atents, Washington, D. G.

